I was driving and heard a clunk, saw a black object bouncing in the rearview. It seems to be from my car as it was quite warm. Can anyone identify it? It is heavy and seems to be solid metal, almost cubical with rounded edges. Not sure if is related to the fact that in the past week, my exhaust has gotten very loud and rough under acceleration. 2007 mini Cooper s

 

Does it have a p/n on it?

I’d hazard a guess that it is a jack insert. If your car was jacked up or ramps recently it may have got stuck in the jack points and has taken until now to fall out. Check the other jack points to see if there are more, or give the garage a call and see if they are missing one. Of course it might have fallen off the car in front of you too. I wouldn’t worry too much, if it doesn’t have a p/n on it its probably didn’t come from the factory on your car.

Russell

 

Anything on the other side like a 3/8"square hole? The pegs look consistent with a rear brake pad spreader tool. Although I've never seen a square one.

 

Look quite allot like a jack insert.

 

I have seen that on another post or forum but cannot find it now. I believe it was some weight to do with gear linkage from the engine bay somewhere above the gear box
.

 

I think Scudder44 is correct. See here: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=23_1073, item 10 is pointing to it. Not available as a separate part, sometimes it comes loose with time, vibration,and perhaps corrosion.

 

Here's a couple pics of the "transmission shift lever counterweight" --- for lack of better terminology, from my '07MCS. Note it's all metal, not black, and altho not shown, it's solid on the "bottom".

Looking at my "jack inserts", they're all black, not metal, and have a "recessed" bottom. Both are approx the same size, but I can't determine how the jack inserts are mounted --- I'm too damn lazy to crawl under the car to take a pic.

As russellg suggests, take a look under your car for the jack inserts --- it's easier than removing stuff to check for the "--- counterweight".

 

Yep, the newest revision part has it integrated: 23007602720

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...oes-it-do.html

 

No, the other side is completely smooth and solid, it is like a solid rounded cube with only the two pegs.

 

[QUOTE=oldbrokenwind;4336483]Here's a couple pics of the "transmission shift lever counterweight" --- for lack of better terminology, from my '07MCS. Note it's all metal, not black, and altho not shown, it's solid on the "bottom".

Thanks everyone for their input, I think Scudder44, Squawskibum and oldbrokenwind might be right, the picture of the transmission shift lever counterweight looks a lot like the part. It's solid metal and quite heavy, I'm not sure why the colour was so black but when I ran it under water it lightened to a dark grey. Strangely the shift lever doesn't feel any different at all... Do you think the part is vital and that I should get it re-inserted?

 

I guess it is there for a purpose so if it were me, yes, put it back on.

 

Yea, it's a balance weight. You can see above that the newer part is one piece as I bet they had some issues with some separating.